Judges Chapter 1

Unconquered Land (Judges 1:27-36)

Manasseh

Jdg 1:27 – 28

However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.

And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out.

Ephraim

Jdg 1:29 

Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among  them.

Zebulun

Jdg 1:30 

Nor did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt among them, and were put under tribute.

Asher

Jdg 1:31 – 32 

Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.

Naphtali

Jdg 1:33 – 36

Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh or the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but they dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were put under tribute to them.

Dan

Jdg 1:34 – 36

And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountains, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley; and the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim; yet when the strength of the house of Joseph became greater, they were put under tribute.

Now the boundary of the Amorites was from the Ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela, and upward.

It is sad to see this list of unconquered land. Was not the Lord with them when they crossed over the Jordan to claim this land for their home? The reasons for them not being able to conquer is actually written in these few verses. War is a tiring thing and it is not something anyone hope for.

Though they were warring for a just cause, who would not wish the war to end? Maybe they felt tired and did not have the heart to continue fighting to drive all of them out of the land. So they took the easy way out, to make them forced labor. It seemed to be the best of both worlds; no more war and they have, in a sense, “conquered” them.

However this was not what the Lord thought. In Judges 2:2, the Lord said they had not obeyed His voice by making covenant with the inhabitants of the land. The Lord was not pleased with this solution they thought of. This easy way out was actually a compromise!

How about us, have we compromised in terms of our faith?

Do we package our compromises with seemingly reasonable excuses?

Something for all us to ponder and reflect.   

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